The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-16
NEW YGRK'S SOCIAL WAR.
The History of a Quarrel Between
Two Society Leaders.

A society man with whom l bada
long talk a short time ago remerkod
after he had settled the destilies NJ
pugilism and the opera in America
1T is rather amusing to those OF us
who are in the swim, you know, to zee
how little newspapers seem 10 know
of social affairs. Here IS a tre-
mendous row going on in New York
society-one which has never before
been equaled in the history of the town
and yet not word of it Is to be seen
in any of the society columns of The
papers. If such g thing were to tie
place in London instead of New YWE,
Truth, Vanity Fair and all of the O6sr
society journals, would almost 20
the point OF issuing extras concerning
1t. Here 1t seems to have ESCAPED the
notice OF the papers entirely. How do
you account for it2' "Perhaps The
thing is not worth the attention of the
papers. Isn't it worth the attention
OF the papers when Mrs. Astor is
snubbed and cut dead before fifty
people in Newport by Mrs. August
BelmOntY' as it so?"
lit is. The history Of the uuarrel
which has already divided New YORK
society into two distinct factions is thus:
In the first place, Mrs. Aston. as Won
are undoubtedly aware, is a social
leader OF great prom neuce in New
York. Her family, which is CONNECTED
by marriage with the Roosevelts, the
Van Aliens, the Draysons and, indeed,
with half OF the distinctive swell peopt
Of New York, stands in the foremost
position. suppose the Astors are the
foremost family in America in a social
way. Mrs. August Belmont, who
Is the dsugL ter Of C0mmodorePerry and
comes Of family 100 years older than
the Astors, is also very influential
social factor. Probably she is the only
real rival Of Mrs. Astor. 1t has long
been understood that there is cOnside n
Die jealousy between the two ladies.
A few years ago the youngest
son OF the Belmont family f,
Mr.. Oliver Belmont, married q
daughter of Mrs. Whiting and TOOK
her to France. They separated and
the bride came back to ler mothers.
The Writings are very aristocratic
people and extremely popular besides.
They are, am told, distantly con
nected with the AsUors. Whether this
is so or not, they are hand in glove
with the Astor set. and hence hostile to
Mrs. Belmont. Young Mr.. Belmont
has done his best 10 get into society
and his mother has pushed MIN vlgor-
ously, but it doesn't seem to be q sue
cess. Mrs. Belmont declared las. sum
mer at Newport, that the WhitlDg'
wera the cause Of her sons misfortune,
and she announced that she would Cu'
Anybody WHO recognized them. ME-
Astor gave Mrs. Whiting q luneneon
lew days after this to show her GU
tempt for Mrs Belmont and the la.'Tl
cut her dead the next time they nj
Each of the laGies exerted he uIuioo.
Influence among her friends, anu ~
cie,y is divided now into two cGs.L Is
bodies with New York's society LeausiT7
a. their heads Who will WIN
We'll the Astors have been Winning a
every thing for the last 100 years, anu
,5lnk they Will keep up heir pTesuse,
= William Waldorf Aston did n2t va
lis seat il Congress-. No, but ne t W.
appointed minister to Rome VIZ a.
ices congressman and goes MIN ''
better. Brooklyn Eagle.